Chapter 9 - Promises Under the Stars
A year later.
It was a soft, warm Texas evening. The sky above the Hill Country was painted in brilliant shades of purple, orange, and gold as the sun dipped below the horizon.
Mason’s private ranch house outside San Antonio was lit with twinkling fairy lights hung from the oak trees.
A small, intimate gathering of friends and family was taking place on the broad stone patio: Mrs. Rosa was laughing with Victoria Brooks; Lily, now fourteen, bright and thriving at a top local private academy, was showing her friends how to make artisan mocktails at the bar; and soft jazz music floated through the summer air.
Mason stood near the edge of the stone balcony, looking out over the rolling green hills, a glass of wine in his hand.
"You look very serious for a man whose company just reported its highest profit quarter in history," a soft voice said behind him.
Mason turned to see Joanne walking toward him. She wore an elegant burgundy silk dress that complemented her warm skin tone and dark, glowing hair. She looked breathtakingly beautiful.
"I wasn't thinking about the profits, Joanne," Mason said softly, setting his glass down on the stone wall.
"What were you thinking about?"
Mason reached out, gently taking both of her hands in his. "I was thinking about a rainy morning two years ago... when a hungry little girl in a thin jacket asked a security guard for a piece of bread."
Joanne smiled, her eyes softening. "She was so brave that day."
"She saved me, Joanne," Mason said earnestly. "I was running an empire from thirty thousand feet, surrounding myself with spreadsheets and executives who lied to me. I had lost touch with what truly mattered. You and Lily brought me back to earth."
Joanne looked up into his eyes, her heart beating fast. "Mason..."
Mason reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, navy blue velvet box.
Joanne gasped softly, her hand moving to her mouth.
Mason dropped to one knee on the warm stone balcony under the canopy of Texas stars.
"Joanne Parker," Mason said, opening the box to reveal a stunning, flawless emerald-cut diamond ring that sparkled in the moonlight. "You are the most courageous, noble, and beautiful woman I have ever known. You rebuilt your life from the ashes, and in doing so, you rebuilt mine. I don't want to run this life without you beside me."
He looked up into her eyes, his voice thick with deep, genuine emotion.
"Will you do me the absolute honor of becoming my wife, my partner, and my equal in everything I own?"
Tears of pure, unadulterated happiness spilled down Joanne’s cheeks. She looked over at the patio, where Lily and Mrs. Rosa were standing, watching them with huge, beaming smiles, clapping their hands silently.
Joanne looked back down at Mason, dropping to her knees right in front of him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
May you like
"Yes, Mason!" she whispered fiercely into his ear. "Yes! A thousand times yes!"
Mason pulled her close, lifting her slightly off the ground as he kissed her deeply under the starry night sky, while Lily’s joyful cheers rang out across the lawn.
